Effective Lagrangian approach to the EWSB sector

In a model independent framework, the effects of new physics at the electroweak scale can be parametrized in terms of an effective Lagrangian expansion. Assuming the $SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y$ gauge symmetry is linearly realized, the expansion at the lowest order span dimension--six operators built from the observed Standard model (SM) particles, in addition to a light scalar doublet. After a proper choice of the operator basis we present a global fit to all the updated available data related to the electroweak symmetry breaking sector: triple gauge boson vertex (TGV) collider measurements, electroweak precision tests and Higgs searches. In this framework modifications of the interactions of the Higgs field to the electroweak gauge bosons are related to anomalous TGVs, and given the current experimental precision, we show that the analysis of the latest Higgs boson data at the LHC and Tevatron gives rise to strong bounds on TGVs that are complementary to those from direct TGV measurements. Interestingly, we present how this correlated pattern of deviations from the SM predictions could be different for theories based on a non--linear realization of the $SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y$ symmetry, characteristic of for instance composite Higgs models. Furthermore, anomalous TGV signals expected at first order in the non--linear realization may appear only at higher orders of the linear one, and viceversa. Their study could lead to hints on the nature of the observed boson.

CP violation with a dynamical Higgs

We determine the complete set of independent gauge and gauge-Higgs CP-odd effective operators for the generic case of a dynamical Higgs, up to four derivatives in the chiral expansion. The relation with the linear basis of dimension six CP-odd operators is clarified. Phenomenological applications include bounds inferred from electric dipole moment limits, and from present and future collider data on triple gauge coupling measurements and Higgs signals.

Light Non-degenerate Composite Partners at the LHC

We study the implications of a large degree of compositeness for the light generation quarks in composite pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone-boson Higgs models. We focus in particular on viable scenarios where the right-handed up-type quarks have a sizable mixing with the strong dynamics. For concreteness we assume the latter to be characterized by an SO(5)/SO(4) symmetry with fermionic resonances in the SO(4) singlet and fourplet representations. Singlet partners dominantly decay to a Higgs boson and jets. As no dedicated searches are currently looking for these final states, singlet partners can still be rather light. Conversely, some fourplet partners dominantly decay to an electroweak gauge boson and a jet, a signature which has been analyzed at the LHC. To constrain the parameter space of this scenario we have reinterpreted various LHC analyses. In the limit of first two generation degeneracy, as in minimal flavor violation or U(2)-symmetric flavor models, fourplet partners need to be relatively heavy, with masses above 1.8 TeV, or the level of compositeness needs to be rather small. The situation is rather different in models that deviate from the first two generation degeneracy paradigm, as the charm parton distribution functions are suppressed relative to the up quark ones. The right-handed charm quark can be composite and its partners being as light as 600 GeV, while the right-handed up quark needs either to be mostly elementary or to have its partners as heavy as 2 TeV. Models with fully composite singlet fermions are also analyzed, leading to similar conclusions. Finally, we consider the case where both the fourplet and the singlet states are present. In this case the bounds could be significantly weaken due to a combination of smaller production rates and the opening of new channels including cascade processes.

Robust determination of the scalar boson couplings

We study the indirect effects of new physics on the phenomenology of the Higgs-like particle. Assuming that the recently observed state belongs to a light electroweak doublet scalar and that the SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y symmetry is linearly realized, we parametrize these effects in terms of an effective Lagrangian at the electroweak scale. We choose the dimension--six operator basis which allows us to make better use of all the available data to constrain the coefficients of the dimension-six operators. We perform a global 6--parameter fit which allows simultaneous determination of the standard model scalar couplings to gluons, electroweak gauge bosons, bottom quarks, and tau leptons. The results are based on the data released at Moriond 2013. Moreover, our formalism leads to strong constraints on the electroweak triple gauge boson couplings. Note added: The analysis has been updated with a NEW GLOBAL 6-PARAMETER FIT with all the public data available after Moriond 2013. Updates of this analysis are provided at the website http://hep.if.usp.br/Higgs, as well as n

Determining Triple Gauge Boson Couplings from Higgs Data

In the framework of effective Lagrangians with the SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y symmetry linearly realized, modifications of the couplings of the Higgs field to the electroweak gauge bosons are related to anomalous triple gauge couplings (TGCs). Here, we show that the analysis of the latest Higgs boson production data at the LHC and Tevatron give rise to strong bounds on TGCs that are complementary to those from direct TGC analysis. We present the constraints on TGCs obtained by combining all available data on direct TGC studies and on Higgs production analysis. Note added: The analysis has been updated with all the public data available as November 2013. Updates of this analysis are provided at http://hep.if.usp.br/Higgs

Robust Determination of the Higgs Couplings: Power to the Data

We study the indirect effects of new physics on the phenomenology of the recently discovered Higgs-like particle. In a model independent framework these effects can be parametrized in terms of an effective Lagrangian at the electroweak scale. In a theory in which the SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry is linearly realized they appear at lowest order as dimension--six operators, containing all the SM fields including the light scalar doublet, with unknown coefficients. We discuss the choice of operator basis which allows us to make better use of all the available data on the new state, triple gauge boson vertex and electroweak precision tests, to determine the coefficients of the new operators. We illustrate our present knowledge of those by performing a global fit to the existing data which allows simultaneous determination of the eight relevant parameters quantifying the Higgs couplings to gluons, electroweak gauge bosons, bottom quarks, and tau leptons. We find that for all scenarios considered the standard model predictions for each individual Higgs coupling and observable are within the corresponding 68% CL allowed range. We finish by commenting on the implications of the results for unitarity of processes at higher energies. Note added: The analysis has been updated with all the public data available by October 2013. Updates of this analysis are provided at http://hep.if.usp.br/Higgs as well as n

Constraining anomalous Higgs interactions

The recently announced Higgs discovery marks the dawn of the direct probing of the electroweak symmetry breaking sector. Sorting out the dynamics responsible for electroweak symmetry breaking now requires probing the Higgs interactions and searching for additional states connected to this sector. In this work we analyze the constraints on Higgs couplings to the standard model gauge bosons using the available data from Tevatron and LHC. We work in a model--independent framework expressing the departure of the Higgs couplings to gauge bosons by dimension--six operators. This allows for independent modifications of its couplings to gluons, photons and weak gauge bosons while still preserving the Standard Model (SM) gauge invariance. Our results indicate that best overall agreement with data is obtained if the cross section of Higgs production via gluon fusion is suppressed with respect to its SM value and the Higgs branching ratio into two photons is enhanced, while keeping the production and decays associated to couplings to weak gauge bosons close to their SM prediction.

Update of the Present Bounds on New Neutral Vector Resonances from Electroweak Gauge Boson Pair Production at the LHC

The model independent bounds on new neutral vector resonances masses, couplings and widths presented at arxiv:1112.0316 are updated with an integrated luminosity of L=4.7 fb^-1 from ATLAS and L=4.6 fb^-1 from CMS. These exclusion limits correspond to the most stringent existing bounds on the production of new neutral spin-1 resonances that decay to electroweak gauge boson pairs and that are associated to the electroweak symmetry breaking sector in several extensions of the Standard Model.

Present Bounds on New Neutral Vector Resonances from Electroweak Gauge Boson Pair Production at the LHC

Several extensions of the Standard Model predict the existence of new neutral spin-1 resonances associated to the electroweak symmetry breaking sector. Using the data from ATLAS (with integrated luminosity of L=1.02 fb^{-1}) and CMS (with integrated luminosity of L=1.55 fb^{-1}) on the production of W+W- pairs through the process pp -> l^+ l^{prime -} sla{E}_T, we place model independent bounds on these new vector resonances masses, couplings and widths. Our analyses show that the present data excludes new neutral vector resonances with masses up to 1-2.3 TeV depending on their couplings and widths. We also demonstrate how to extend our analysis framework to different models working a specific example.